Health experts want more to be done to curb the number of people contracting HIV after figures showed diagnosis in Wales reached a 15-year high.

There were 189 positive tests in 2014, according to newly released figures which relates to data from STI clinics.

Giving out free condoms and prescribing pre-exposure prophylaxis (Prep) for those most at risk are among measures suggested to tackle the problem.

Quarterly updates for 2015 indicate diagnoses will fall slightly.

“There’s still a lot of stigma and a lot of ignorance out there,” said Dr Olwen Williams, a consultant genito-urinary physician at Wrexham Maelor Hospital.

“You need a robust prevention strategy. It’s about making sure people have access to information at all stages of life.

Controversial drug

“We target people at certain ages giving them certain information and then forget about them as they get older but they keep on having sex.”

Testing for HIV increased by 48% in men and 34% in women between 2012 and 2014, and the rate of new HIV diagnoses increased by 65% in males and 37% in females.

Media captionDr Olwen Williams outlines some of the possible reasons behind the increase

Dr Williams, who was one of the authors of the HIW and STI trends in Wales surveillance report which presented the figures, said the highest rise was among gay men.

She said there were a number of reasons for the rise including increased testing, individuals bringing their partner for screening and those who have had HIV for years but only recently started showing symptoms.

But she also joined the calls for the Prep drug, which can prevent HIV, to be introduced.

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